Sustainability that
comes from the
place itself
Maquenque is a sustainable lodge in Costa Rica, operating in Boca Tapada inside the Maquenque Mixed Wildlife Refuge: a territory of forests, rivers, wetlands and extraordinary wildlife. Here, nature is not the backdrop. It is part of everything we do.
Sustainability is how we make decisions
Boca Tapada reminds us every day that nature is not separate from the experience of staying here. It is part of it. Being inside the refuge inspires us and commits us at the same time: how we operate, how we receive visitors and how we relate to our surroundings all have to start from respect for the landscape and for the forms of life that share this territory.
So we treat sustainability as a way of making decisions. It is present in how we use natural resources, how we coexist with wildlife, how we work with communities, how we support our team and which initiatives we back for the future of the area. It is not an isolated action but a path of learning and continuous improvement. Being a sustainable lodge in Costa Rica is not a label we were handed. It is the set of choices we keep making.
What is the Maquenque Mixed Wildlife Refuge?
It is a protected wild area that forms part of a landscape of enormous importance for conservation and ecological connectivity in northern Costa Rica. Talking about this refuge means talking about a living territory: forests, wetlands, rivers and productive land belong to the same landscape, alongside the communities that have built their lives in the region.
Its status as a mixed refuge reflects exactly that coexistence between protecting nature and the presence of people, activities and properties inside the territory. For us, being here is not simply a location on a map. It is the starting point of our identity.
We are not next to a protected area, observing it from outside. We live and operate inside a territory where protecting the forest and respecting wildlife is part of our responsibility.
We share this territory with its wildlife
Birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and a great variety of plants form an ecosystem that keeps its own rhythm, long before and long after each visitor arrives. Our relationship with it starts from a simple idea: we are visitors inside a living ecosystem.
Wildlife is not here to be controlled, fed or turned into an attraction. Every encounter with an animal is something we want to experience through respect, keeping a proper distance and following the recommendations needed to avoid altering natural behaviour.
Observe without disturbing. Enjoy without extracting. Share without invading.
Tourism also has to create value for the people who live here
Sustainability is not limited to caring for the environment. It also means recognising that the territory has communities, families, knowledge, economic activities and histories of its own. Boca Tapada is not only the destination our visitors reach. It is a community and a human setting that is part of this experience.
Our commitment is for our operation to contribute positively to the social and economic development of Boca Tapada and its surroundings: the opportunities tourism generates, the value of working alongside people from the area, our relationships with suppliers, and giving visibility to initiatives born in the territory.
We also believe in the value of local knowledge. The people who live here know the paths, the rivers, the changing seasons, the stories and the nature through a relationship built over time. Listening to and recognising that knowledge is part of how we understand our bond with the community.
A sustainable destination is not built only by protecting the landscape. It is also built by strengthening the people who live in it.
How we run the lodge, day to day
Sustainability is built daily. It does not depend on one large decision but on hundreds of decisions taken during operation. We know every activity generates impacts, so our commitment is not to claim otherwise, but to understand them, reduce them where possible and keep improving our practices.
Our Sustainability Manual guides this way of working and sets common principles across six areas.
So we treat sustainability as a way of making decisions. It is present in how we use natural resources, how we coexist with wildlife, how we work with communities, how we support our team and which initiatives we back for the future of the area. It is not an isolated action but a path of learning and continuous improvement. Being a sustainable lodge in Costa Rica is not a label we were handed. It is the set of choices we keep making.
01
Water
Water is essential to our operation and to life in the territory. We use it responsibly through monitoring, maintenance and practices that reduce unnecessary consumption, and we invite guests to join that effort during their stay.
02
Energy
We work to use energy more efficiently and to keep advancing practices that reduce the impact of our operation. Efficiency starts with everyday use: proper maintenance, responsible decisions and awareness of the energy each experience requires.
03
Waste
We promote reduction, separation and responsible management of the waste our operation generates. The approach begins by avoiding unnecessary waste and continues with sorting and handling it as well as the conditions and alternatives available in the area allow.
04
Purchasing and suppliers
Buying decisions have an impact too. We prioritise suppliers who bring quality and responsibility and, where conditions allow, we look to generate benefits for the local economy. A more sustainable operation also means asking where what we use comes from.
05
People
People are essential to how we see sustainability. We promote an environment based on respect, inclusion, equal opportunity and the continuous development of our team, so that Maquenque Lodge is also a place where people can contribute, learn and grow professionally.
06
Continuous improvement
Sustainability is not a destination. It is a permanent process that requires observing, reviewing and adjusting. We measure and evaluate our practices to find opportunities and advance step by step, knowing new challenges will always appear.
Our Sustainability Manual
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Protecting the future also means teaching
Conservation does not begin only in the forest. It also begins when people know, understand and value the place where they live. Maquenque Lodge and Canoa Aventura support the work of SONATI, Sociedad y Naturaleza Internacional, a non-profit association committed to environmental education, biodiversity conservation and community strengthening.
We cannot talk about the future of this territory without thinking about those who will grow up in it.
What SONATI does
- Environmental education and awareness
- Biodiversity conservation and responsible management of natural resources
- Coordination between communities, public institutions and the private sector
- Community strengthening around identity, culture and territory
Where the programme works
SONATI’s current proposal includes environmental awareness processes in five schools inside the area identified in its presentation as the refuge.
Escuela Castelmare
Escuela Boca Tapada
A documented trajectory
SONATI’s own institutional presentation documents this history. The new support from Maquenque Lodge and Canoa Aventura builds on it rather than starting from zero.
2016-2017
First documented stage
2018-2020
Second stage of work
2026-2029
community support programme
Why we support this work
Maquenque Lodge and Canoa Aventura create nature-based experiences in a region whose richness depends directly on the health of its ecosystems and on the bond people keep with them. Supporting SONATI helps strengthen environmental education in rural communities connected to that same landscape.
A visitor’s experience may begin in the forest or on a river, but the future of the territory is also tied to what new generations learn, understand and decide to protect.
Learning in order to protect
Protecting often begins with knowing. When a child understands the value of a river, recognises the species living near their community or grasps the link between human action and the health of an ecosystem, they gain new tools to value where they live.
Environmental education is also a form of conservation.
Your stay is part of the story of this place
Travelling responsibly also means understanding that we are entering territories that already have a history, a nature and communities of their own. Sometimes the most important actions are the simplest ones.
We also invite guests to look beyond the room or a specific activity. Getting to know Boca Tapada, taking an interest in local stories and valuing the initiatives working for the territory give the trip a deeper connection to the place.
We do not expect perfect visitors. We invite each person into an experience based on respect, curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Where the programme works
01
Respect the wildlife
Observe without intervening, keep your distance and never feed wild animals.
02
Use resources consciously
Water and energy are shared with the territory around you.
03
Reduce waste
Separation bins are in every public area, and refill stations replace bottled water.
04
Follow guides and authorities
The people who know the territory know where it is safe to go and when.
05
Get to know local initiatives
Discovering a place also means learning how to live alongside it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maquenque Lodge located?
Maquenque Lodge is located in Boca Tapada, in the northern zone of Costa Rica, inside the Maquenque Mixed Wildlife Refuge.
What is the Maquenque Mixed Wildlife Refuge?
It is a protected wild area in northern Costa Rica. Its status as a mixed refuge is part of the territorial context in which Maquenque Lodge operates.
What does sustainability mean for Maquenque Lodge?
It means integrating the protection of nature, the responsible use of resources, the bond with the community, responsible operating practices, and a culture of continuous improvement.
How does Maquenque Lodge protect wildlife?
By promoting a respectful relationship with fauna and flora, avoiding practices such as the artificial feeding of wild animals, and guiding visitors toward responsible coexistence.
How does Maquenque Lodge support the community?
Its approach considers benefits for local communities, hiring wherever possible, support for suppliers, and the participation of local people, activities and products in its operation.
What is SONATI?
SONATI, Sociedad y Naturaleza Internacional, is a non-profit association focused on environmental education, biodiversity conservation and community strengthening.
Why do Maquenque Lodge and Canoa Aventura support SONATI?
Because they share the view that conserving the territory also requires environmental education, community participation, and opportunities to strengthen the bond between new generations and nature.
Sustainability is not a goal reached once and for all
We understand it as a continuing commitment to the territory that receives us, one that requires listening, learning, acting and starting again when necessary. That is what being a sustainable lodge in Costa Rica asks of u
Thank you for being part of a story we want to help protect.